Instinctively, parents think that crying is always a sign of some kind of distress in their baby. And it often is. It's normal for a baby to cry when he is hungry, cold, or needs to have a diaper changed. He may also cry when he is bored and just wants to be picked up. So babies cry a lot. In fact, it is estimated that the average baby cries for two to four hours a day.

Remember that crying isn't always normal, though. Crying can be a sign of an illness or that your baby is in pain. Crying is considered “normal” if your baby is eating and growing well and has no other symptoms, such as fever, vomiting, or trouble breathing. If your baby's cries seem excessive, see Chapter 10 for tips. Call your pediatrician if you still need help or think there may be a serious underlying problem.